For the fans that have been around a looong time.

[olddog75]

To answer the question, I was at Tech from 1956 until 1961 during the JOE AILLET era. I do not remember having a team that was even below average of course we were in the GSC and the travel and coompetition was not what it is today. Those were glorious times and I loved and lived Tech Sports. I can fondly remember a number of athletes who made Tech proud and were very proud of Tech.

The same is true for me - I attend Tech from 1971- 1975, the Maxie Lambright era. I refuse to accept anything less.

[Choudawg86]

Dirty-As a more "experienced" Bulldog fan of 49 years, I do have some thoughts about our current situation. Men like DON & MAXIE (CoachDawg) & DAN (CARTEK) & so many others have certainly enjoyed the successes & lamented the failures of our beloved Bulldogs for so many years. As I have said before, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (what is was when I came in 1959) gave me a CHANCE to have a life & I will NEVER forget Coach Aillet taking a chance on a 145 lb. QB coming out of Bolton HS when no other college of junior college would. Like all others on BB&B, I have a deep, abiding love for our great school.

I DO remember the 5 int.'s that Terry threw in our last game vs. Sout. Miss in 1967 in the State Fair Stadium as we got STOMPED! That game ended a terrible season in my first year of coaching and as I rode the team bus back to Ruston (me & Pat Patterson the only ones on the bus), I wondered if I was really cut out for coaching as I was dumb as a board. I also remember the 5 int.'s Terry threw vs. SE the next year when we managed a win in Hammond. I DO remember Larry Beightol's inglorious 8 games as our HC & there have been many other low spots during all these years including the beatings we absorbed when we were transitioning from 1-AA to 1-A, finally achieving 1-A status on January 20, 1989.

We have had some golden opportunities to really advance our 1-A football program during the almost 17 years since we joined the 1-A ranks. One was right after the season ended with our participation in the Indy Bowl vs. Maryland. We FAILED to do anything to advance our program during a time when interest was at an all-time high. The door opened, we FAILED to step through. Another opportunity lost was during the golden years of Tim Rattay & Troy Edwards & Gary Crowton. Interest in our football program was so intense due to the play of Rattay & Edwards & the innovative, risk-taking, big reward offense of Gary Crowton. Again, we FAILED on every front to take advantage of people, companies, etc. that were so eager to be a part of such a wonderful, entertaining product-Tech Football. Once again, the door opened, we seemed to be content on the administrative level with where we were & what we had, and, Rattay, Edwards, & Crowton left and the DOOR CLOSED. Since that time, with just a brief interval or two of success, we have GONE BACKWARD!

That brings me to your question, Dirty. And, my answer is, in the 47 years of my involvement in & love for the Louisiana Tech Football program, I think we are now in the lowest depth of despair and those in charge just do not seem to care. I do agree that the days of my most personal involvement were different days. I played & coached on a different level. We never had to schedule these games where our chances of winning were NIL. There were no INTERNET GUYS! The level of scrutiny was far less. However, WE HAVE CHOSEN the level we are now competing on. It was US who got us to where we are now. And, in the end, its all relative. APATHY is at an all-time high among our own people regarding our football program and we have noone to blame but US. Will the door open once again to advance our program? If it does, so much must CHANGE!

would i ever like to see that delivered as a speach in a public forum kinda way.

[MICKEYS14]

Under the word CHANGE, here's what I'm talking about. If you look close at our budget for football, I seriously doubt you would see much growth in 2006 dollars compared to 1989 dollars (the year we were granted 1-A status). You would see a growth in total dollars but, allowing for 17 years of inflation, I doubt there is much, if any, REAL GROWTH. That needs to change. Where is the $2million of BCS guarantees going every year? COMMITMENT-does anyone really believe there is a REAL, GENUINE COMMITMENT to growing our D1-A football program. Other than a new turf, new lights, somewhat new fieldhouse addition, weight-room improvements, the TB memorbilia display, ALL PAID FOR by INDIVIDUALS, what has the university done to contribute to needed improvements to enhance our FB program? What COMMITMENT has been displayed to our coaches in furnishing them with all that is needed to run a D1-A program (put aside the argument of who should be doing the coaching)? My God, Damon Harrington needed supplements for his program this year---not in his budget. This is a minor line in ANY D1-A football budget. What did he have to do? Solicit the money himself to pay for the supplements! I realize this is a minor thing but this is prevalent thoroughout the football budget---if you need something, go get it yourself. What REAL COMMITMENT has our university made to our FB coaches? You tell me. IMPORTANT-does anyone really believe that our FB program is IMPORTANT to the men who make the decisions--our administrators--from the top down? If that were the case, would we have left players at home on our plane ride to Nebraska so that non-participants could go? If our program was IMPORTANT, would we continue to schedule like we do and substitute "money-games," another term for "almost sure blowout defeats," instead of getting off our butts & marketing our program, really conducting capital fund drives for our program, really selling our program to corporate sponsors, really running our business LIKE a business, in other words, IMPORTANT enough to treat like a D-1A FB program? Instead, we have about the same staff we had in 1989 doing the same things and all of us are expecting different results? That makes no sense to me.

I could go on & on but you get the point. Before anything happens on the playing field that makes us all proud of a true D1-A football program, a LEGION OF CHANGE is going to have to happen in those administering the football program we have which is as far from being a D1-A football program as it can be, at this point in time.

[8411]

LEGION OF CHANGE

sounds like a t-shirt to me. maybe in red.

[Coachdawg]

Under the word CHANGE, here's what I'm talking about. If you look close at our budget for football, I seriously doubt you would see much growth in 2006 dollars compared to 1989 dollars (the year we were granted 1-A status). You would see a growth in total dollars but, allowing for 17 years of inflation, I doubt there is much, if any, REAL GROWTH. That needs to change. Where is the $2million of BCS guarantees going every year? COMMITMENT-does anyone really believe there is a REAL, GENUINE COMMITMENT to growing our D1-A football program. Other than a new turf, new lights, somewhat new fieldhouse addition, weight-room improvements, the TB memorbilia display, ALL PAID FOR by INDIVIDUALS, what has the university done to contribute to needed improvements to enhance our FB program? What COMMITMENT has been displayed to our coaches in furnishing them with all that is needed to run a D1-A program (put aside the argument of who should be doing the coaching)? My God, Damon Harrington needed supplements for his program this year---not in his budget. This is a minor line in ANY D1-A football budget. What did he have to do? Solicit the money himself to pay for the supplements! I realize this is a minor thing but this is prevalent thoroughout the football budget---if you need something, go get it yourself. What REAL COMMITMENT has our university made to our FB coaches? You tell me. IMPORTANT-does anyone really believe that our FB program is IMPORTANT to the men who make the decisions--our administrators--from the top down? If that were the case, would we have left players at home on our plane ride to Nebraska so that non-participants could go? If our program was IMPORTANT, would we continue to schedule like we do and substitute "money-games," another term for "almost sure blowout defeats," instead of getting off our butts & marketing our program, really conducting capital fund drives for our program, really selling our program to corporate sponsors, really running our business LIKE a business, in other words, IMPORTANT enough to treat like a D-1A FB program? Instead, we have about the same staff we had in 1989 doing the same things and all of us are expecting different results? That makes no sense to me.

I could go on & on but you get the point. Before anything happens on the playing field that makes us all proud of a true D1-A football program, a LEGION OF CHANGE is going to have to happen in those administering the football program we have which is as far from being a D1-A football program as it can be, at this point in time.

WHAT CAN I SAY? THERE IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE. THE "MAN" HAS SPOKEN AGAIN. BELIEVE IT BECAUSE HE KNOWS.

[Dawgpix]

would i ever like to see that delivered as a speach in a public forum kinda way.

It just has, cuz in law. All over the world.

[Reddawg]

Would those of you "long timers" who responded to Dirty's question mind if I copied your reponses and sent them to a friend of mine at Tech who doesn't visit the board. No, not JO or DR or JBIII. Just someone I want to share these eye opening responses with.

RD

[champion110]

I hope that no one on here minds that their posts be sent to other people. It is a public forum. I am certainly fine with it, but each person would need to speak for themselves. Personally, I wish D.R. and J.O. would read them.

[dawg80]

I doubt if anyone would want to read my post, but, yes, send it along.

While reading Coach Mick's response I saw in it what I was trying to say, Tech football is trying to compete at a much higher level today than ever before in its history. So, yes, the stakes are higher and so too is the challenge. Coach is also probably right on the mark when comparing our 2006 to our 1989 budget. Nothing has changed, i.e. NO GROWTH. It is also true that at least TWO great opportunities were missed to really grow the program (1990 and 1999). If you watch college FB you will see a net catching footballs with an All-State logo on it in many, many stadiums. Where's the one at Aillet?

Here's an Earth-shattering observation: DR and JO are clueless about college athletics. I really doubt the "they don't care" take, I think they are simply clueless.

I was watching a show on ESPN recently, the 10 Greatest QB's in NCAA history, and one highlighted was Doug Flutie (hmmmmm, greatest???), anyway, the president of Boston College was interviewed and he said, after Flutie won the Hypesman, applications to BC increased 15% the following year. Hello! Who said athletics is the window to the university? DR is clueless.

[altadawg]

in the short time i have been around tech football, (and that's all i can attest to in the athletic program), i have seen changes for the better. yes, there are questions with the staff, but as a whole, i think these gentlemen are right for the program. both in the recruiting process & pretty much on the field, (except for a few questionable decisons). shoot, the field & the lights are a huge improvement. add the jumbotron next year as well as other announced improvements and we are moving in the right direction.

WOW.

i know I agreed not to rip on posters but I just cant help it. This is just awful.

Gentlemen right for the program? Moving in the right direction?

Dude, get a clue.

[8411]

WOW.

i know I agreed not to rip on posters but I just cant help it. This is just awful.

Gentlemen right for the program? Moving in the right direction?

Dude, get a clue.

alta, don't read too much into the statements. you would have to admit, facilities are better now than the last couple of years. and, you'd have to admit, "plans" for the near future of facilities are better than recently. that is what was meant "in the right direction".

as for the "gentlemen right for the program". thsi was directed at the coaches only. i have no relation or have never even met JO or DR, but do see their lack of vision & committment to the football program. this i will agree is a serious concern. on the coaching standpoint, i also think changes need to be made, but don't think a "house cleaning " in the field house is in order. does the coaching staff need to make some changes now and maybe re-think some of the on field decisions? absolutely! but, once again i'll state, this, (other than last saturday), was to be expected. maybe not in such a non-competitive way. but realistically, a 2-4 record at this point is where i thought we'd be. let's see how the team responds now. these next couple of weeks will be a very interesting test to the coach's control over the team.

[altadawg]

alta, don't read too much into the statements. you would have to admit, facilities are better now than the last couple of years. and, you'd have to admit, "plans" for the near future of facilities are better than recently. that is what was meant "in the right direction".

as for the "gentlemen right for the program". thsi was directed at the coaches only. i have no relation or have never even met JO or DR, but do see their lack of vision & committment to the football program. this i will agree is a serious concern. on the coaching standpoint, i also think changes need to be made, but don't think a "house cleaning " in the field house is in order. does the coaching staff need to make some changes now and maybe re-think some of the on field decisions? absolutely! but, once again i'll state, this, (other than last saturday), was to be expected. maybe not in such a non-competitive way. but realistically, a 2-4 record at this point is where i thought we'd be. let's see how the team responds now. these next couple of weeks will be a very interesting test to the coach's control over the team.

You want me to jump up and down because we have lights that actually work? A used field turf(its nice, dont get me wrong) that we couldnt afford to install for 2 years?

Have you seen JAS empty lately? Its dirty, stained, ugly and falling apart!!

Have you seen the outside of the TAC lately? The track and the bleachers??

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I knew you were talking to the coaches as being right for the program. Thats what my "get a clue" comment was aimed at.

Re-think onfield decisions? You have got to be kidding, right? That comment might have had merit back in 2000 or so, but most have us have seen way, way to much of Jack and this staff. We know he cant change. He cant coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im really trying hard not to be ugly, and its not just you, 8411.

Im just not going to let comments like that go by without a response.

Maybe the mods should ban me from posting for awhile. I cant help myself right now.

[Cool Hand Clyde]

A used field turf(its nice, dont get me wrong) that we couldnt afford to install for 2 years?

Just a correction to your rant: The field turf is brand new. The used stuff is sitting somewhere.

[altadawg]

Just a correction to your rant: The field turf is brand new. The used stuff is sitting somewhere.

Oh, sorry, didnt know that.

The new turf we couldnt afford to install for 2 years...

[8411]

You want me to jump up and down because we have lights that actually work? A used field turf(its nice, dont get me wrong) that we couldnt afford to install for 2 years?

Have you seen JAS empty lately? Its dirty, stained, ugly and falling apart!!

Have you seen the outside of the TAC lately? The track and the bleachers??

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, I knew you were talking to the coaches as being right for the program. Thats what my "get a clue" comment was aimed at.

Re-think onfield decisions? You have got to be kidding, right? That comment might have had merit back in 2000 or so, but most have us have seen way, way to much of Jack and this staff. We know he cant change. He cant coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im really trying hard not to be ugly, and its not just you, 8411.

Im just not going to let comments like that go by without a response.

Maybe the mods should ban me from posting for awhile. I cant help myself right now.

you've obviously been around the program much longer than i. i've only followed closely for the last couple of years. in that short time, i have seen changes. yes, the stadium & TAC need some immediate TLC. this would go a long way in at least improving an apperance that we are striving to be "big time". in my eyes, there is no reason that this is not being done now. the track, yes it is embarrassing. however, did i hear it wrong, but do not both the track & tennis courts have plans to be torn down and a new "center" be built along with a new natatorium?

but, my main concern now is with the football program. the last two years are all i have to judge by, and yes, this is by far the worst in that time. i thought the end of last season was great with the fresno win. disappointing to say the least in the fact we missed a bowl bid, but a good way to end the season anyway. in many minds, we should have rolled into 2006 on a "high" and ready to play. obviously that was not the case. i do blame the staff for the ill preperation. i don't think the team was ready to see what was in store at nu, aTm, or clemson. although the venues were great for experience, getting your butt kicked that badly can bring you back to reality. nicholls was o.k. crappy 1st quarter and not much offense, but a W is a W. idaho, there is no excuse. i don't care who you are, but no one can turn the ball over 8 times & expect to come out on top.

i guess my main point is, we can all questions the playbook, punt decisions, personnel on the field, etc. and that is our right. trust me, i do not agree with plenty of the moves made during game time. and yes, this somehow needs to be addressed. i do think though, that the staff has put a nice group of young talent together, and that they will do just fine in the next couple of years. unfortunately it won't be this one. once again, i'll hold my final thoughts until i see how we respond thru the rest of the season.